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Skilled Migration Processing Update

DIAC has issued an update on Skilled Migration allocation and processing on its website, including the following processing priority groups and order of processing:

  • Priority Group 1 RSMS applications
  • Priority Group 2 ENS applications
  • Priority Group 3 Applications nominated by a State or Territory Government for an occupation specified on that State Migration Plan (SMP), with the following order of processing: 

a) Lodged from 1 July 2012 through SkillSelect (Subclasses 190, 489) 

b) In this priority for other General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas (Subclasses 176, 475, 487, 886)

  • Priority Group 4 Applications with nominated occupations on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) Schedule 1, with the following order of processing: 

a) Lodged from 1 July 2012 through SkillSelect (Subclasses 189, 489) 

b) Within this priority for other GSM Subclasses (175, 176, 475, 487, 885, 886)

  • Priority Group 5 All other applications, which include the following:

 a) For a State or Territory Sponsored visa (Subclasses 176, 475, 487, 886) where a State or Territory approved nomination has either not been provided or has not been accepted by the Department 

b) For a Skilled Independent visa (Subclasses 175, 885) where the nominated occupation is not on the SOL

c) For a Family Sponsored Skilled Migration visa (Subclasses 176, 475, 487, 496, 886) where the nominated occupation is not on the SOL – NB) These Subclasses are not listed in order of processing

  • NB: Subclasses 476, 485, 489 (Subsequent Entrant / Renewal), and 887 (and 120 and 855, Labour Agreement) visa applications are exempt from priority processing and are processed in the order in which they are received.

Administrators note:

Despite continuing technical difficulties with the e-lodgment system and huge backlogs caused by vast numbers of visa applications lodged prior to the 1 July 2012, the RSMS and ENS visa sub-classes are still the governmemnts top priority for permanent skilled migration. The targetted nature of these visas meets the government’s objective to put employers and visa applicants together in a demand-driven environment. These visas (along with the temporary 457 visa program which is not affected by this priority process) enable employers to fill positions they are unable to fill from local labour. Unsponsored or independent visas accessed through the new Skill Select data-base is Priority Group 4